nesbit



J. N. G. NESBIT. AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27 I917.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- [Ihl lNVENTOR Jay/ ZL G- M56225 WITNESSES ATTORNEY L N.G.NESBIL AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT--27. I917.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.-

WITN E-SS ES ATTORNEY J. N. G. NESBIT.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, I917- 1,298,773., Patented Apr. 1,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- \NVENTOR WITNESSES Jagqwcjl/T G NSi Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARTIAL COMBUSTION METHOD FOR TREATING ALIPHATIC HYDROCAR- BONS Application January 6,

37 Claims. The present invention relates to improvements upon the methodset forth in my pending application Serial No. 272,567, filed January 22, 1919, and certain other pending applications. In a large amount of further work done on such methods, I have discovered means and methods for controlling the temperature of the reactions, and for increasing the percentages of useful products obtained and improving their quality for certain uses. I have also discovered that I can, simultaneously therewith, produce material percentages of hydrocarbon products, such as motor spirit, of less molecular weight than the hydrocarbon treated, owing to thermal decomposition.

I have also found an improved way of handling hydrocarbons of high molecular weight such as are contained in large amounts in the cheaper petroleums; and which are difiicult to vaporize and even when subjected to my main process givepoorer products. For example, taking a heavy fraction from Mexican or California petroleum, I subject this or still heavier fractions, to the old-fashioned atmospheric pressure cracking distillation in vertical stills, as in the former process used to increase the amount of kerosene produced. By suitable regulation of the step it is possible to convert '70 to 80% of a.

heavy hydrocarbon fraction into a product having a specific gravity about the same as that of Pennsylvania gas oil. This contains a considerable percentage of olefin hydrocarbons, being made up partly of those already present and partly from the cracking operation. It also may contain some acetylene hydrocarbons. This distillation may be completely carried out so that all the material is cracked and distilled except a layer of cake which remains and is dug out of the still.

This operation lowers the boiling point and permits of easier handling in my main partial combustion process. If, for producing motor spirit, or special flotation oil, for example, by my process, a hydrocarbon of still lower molecular weight is desired, this cracked product may be subjected to vapor phase cracking, preferably at about 400 C. and in the presence of a catalyst. Such catalyst may be any of those hereinafter mentioned, and in addition finely divided metals, such as nickel. In either case the product oxidizes more easily in my process of partial combustion, and may in many cases be oxidized at a lower temperature, even as low as 170 to 180 C.

I have also discovered that, by increasing the :lepth or thickness c. the c talytic layer in such 1921, Serial No. 435,355

processes, I can improve both the quality and quantity of products obtained for certain purposes; while at the same time increasing the amount of lower boiling point hydrocarbons produced. Under this phase of the invention, I may increase the total depth or thickness of the catalytic layer either by increasing the thickness of a single layer of the material, or by using a series of separated layers, or by both. I prefer to use a succession of separated layers, and in such case I prefer to admit additional air to the hot mixed vapor material between each pair of catalytic layers; and to mix only a portion of the total amount of air required, with the vapor passing to the first layer. 1

I also prefer to suck the vapor-air-mixture through the apparatus by a suction or exhaust device at the outlet end, located either between the catalyst and the condenser, or beyond the condenser and between the condenser and the scrubbers, if the latter are used.

Where catalytic layers of relatively large area are employed under my method, I have found that there is difliculty in controlling the tem-' perature in the reaction zone. The partial combustion reaction gives out heat, and with layers of large area the temperature tends to build up and to rise with considerable rapidity as the reactions proceed. With larger area layers, the heat generated will, of course, escape less easily than with those of smaller area.

I have found several ways of overcoming this trouble with relatively large area layers.

. First.-I decrease the amount of air supplied for the mixture and which I would otherwise supply to considerably above that theoretically required to. combine with and oxidize the vapor. I cut down this air percentage to more nearly the theoretical amount, or to such theoretical amount, or even below it, as the temperature 40 rises above that desired, during the run.

Second.I supply a diluent, such as steam supplied as water fed into the vaporizer in regulated amounts; or I may use fume gas fed into the mixture.

Third.-I employ several separated layers of catalytic material and supply only a portion of the total air to the mixture passing to and through each screen. This is my preferred form.

Fourth-I may artificially cool the layer, par- 50 ticularly where only one layer is used; by applying cooling fluid, directly or indirectly, to the outlet side of the layer.

Any one, or several, or all of these systems of controlling, txe temperature ray be used.

Reducing the air percentage or supplying steam or other diluent tends to retard the reactions in the reaction zone. Where the amount of air is reduced, or steam is supplied to hold down the temperature, the amount of partial combustion products will be somewhat reduced, where a sin gle screen is used; though this system is entirely practicable without the use of special cooling devices.

By using a series of separated catalytic layers with regulated air inlets between them, I can carry out the reactions in a step-by-step manner while more effectually controlling the temperature and keeping it within the desired limits at each layer. In this system the added air supplied later will make up for the original deficit and for the dilution by nitrogen after the first reaction.

If a cooling system is used, cooling pipes with closed ends may be applied at the outlet side of the catalytic layer, the blind endsbeing either in contact with the layer, or embedded therein, or spaced at a slight distance therefrom. If the asbestos or other carrier coated or impregnated with the catalytic material is packed between wire mesh screens, as I prefer, the wire screen may be cut away or punctured to receive the closed ends of the pipes; or these ends may simply contact with the wire screen. By controlling the flow of cooling fluid through this cooling system, I can aid in controlling the temperature and keeping it within the desired limits. Water or air cooling may be used, and the latter, if used, may pass through the cooler by natural or forced draft. In all cases this cooling should be on the outlet side, as the hot vapor mixture must be kept in the vapor phase as it passes into and through the reaction zone. Hence strong cooling of the vapor-air mixture as it approaches the reaction zone would be objectionable.

In many cases, particularly where larger screens are used, my new discoveries will, especially for certain products, avoid the need or desirability of re-vaporizing the condensed prodfrom, than with a thin screen.. Materials having objectionable odors may be largely deodorized by heating the product and blowing airthrough it for a few hours.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section showing one form of apparatus for carrying out my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of a plural layer system;

Figure 3 is a vertical'section of apparatus having a singe relatively thick catalytic layer} and Figure 4 is a broken section showing electrical heating means for the first screen where cracking or formation of unsaturated compounds is desired thereat.

Referring to the form of Figure 1, 2 represents the vaporizing and air mixing chamber, and 3, 3, suitable gas burners beneath the same.

4 represents an oil inlet pipe from which the oil may drop upon a baffle plate, if desired. 6 is the air inlet pipe. I is a drain cock, and 8 designates try-cocks. At the outlet end of the chamber, it is decreased in size somewhat, and in this portion are arranged two metallic screens 9, 9, consisting of thin metallic plates with perforations through them, the perforations in one plate preferably being staggered relatively to those in the next. -These serve to more thoroughly mix the'vapor and air, and also aid in preventing any unvaporized oil from reaching the reaction zone. I0 is a catalytic layer which may contain a thermometer or pyrometer couple for giving a preferably continuous reading of the temperature at the reaction zone.

In this form, I show means for cooling the outlet side of the screen or cooler. This means, as shown has two circular castings l I and I2, secured to each other and to the outlet flange of the retort chamber. The casting II has closed end tubes l3, with their open ends secured in its rear wall, and the casting l2 has smaller open end tubes M, with their rear ends secured in its rear wall. Water or air is circulated through this pipe system, the cooling fluid either entering the small tubes and passing back through the large tubes to a stack or outlet 5, or vice versa. The closed ends of the large tubes may contact with the outlet face of the catalytic layer or the enclosing metal screen, or may be embedded in the layer, or may be spaced a slight distance apart from the layer and screen. In all cases the intent is to abstract heat from the reaction zone to a regulable amount in order to control the temperature.

The bottom of the casting II is provided with an outlet channel l5, which leads to an ordinary condenser l6 having water inlet l1 and water outlet I8. The products condensing in the tubes of this condenser drop into the condenser vessel l9, from which they may be tapped out through a pipe 20 into a product receiver 2!. A pipe 22 leads from the closed vessel l9 to-a vacuum pump, and an equalizing vacuum pipe 23 preferably connects the two vessels l9 and 2|, to provide freer discharge of the liquid product. 24 is a valved .vent pipe, and 25 a valved tap for the receiver.

In the use of this apparatus, the oil entering in a regulated feed is vaporized in the chamber 2 and mixed with a regulated amount of air entering through the pipe 6. The hot hydrocarbon vapor'and air mixture passes through the perforated plates 9, and thence through the cata-' lytic layer, where the partial combustion reactions take place. On leaving the layer, the products strike the cooling system and pass down through the condenser into the collector.

Steam may also be fed in in regulated amounts to the vaporizing chamber, although this is not necessary where the cooling system is properly arranged and handled. A thin screen or a thicker screen may be used in this apparatus, depending partly upon the kind of product desired. If the heavier petroleum fractions are being used, steam will aid in vaporization and also as a temperature equalizer. It also aids in keeping the catalyst free from heavy organic materials, such as tars, which may tend to coat it and retard the passage of the mixture. In fact, although steam retards the action of the process, it is in some cases of industrial advantage, especially with a greater depth of catalyst; or with a series of catalytic layers, the continued action of which will otally connected one end of a pair of levers 57 connected at their lower ends by means of a transverse strip 58 adapted to be engaged by the toe of the shoe when the shoe is engaged upon the stirrup. One of the links 57 is extended to form an arm 59. This is true of each set of links 57. A pair of pulleys 60 are mounted above the frame 12 upon a standard 61, and a flexible element 62 is passed around one pulley, with one terminal of said flexible element connected to one of the arms 59 of the link 57 just described, while the other end of said flexible element is connected to the tail at a point adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof. A second flexible element 63 is then passed around the other pulley 60 with one terminal of said flexible element connected to the other arm 59 of the other yoke 47, while the other terminal of said flexible element 63 is connected to the tail adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge. It will thus be apparent that if the bar 58 of one stirrup is depressed and the other one'released a lateral tipping movement of the tail will result in one direction, a reversal of movement of the bar 58 will result in a reversal of movement of the tail in a lateral direction. Thus, by a combination of movement of the pedals 47 and the bars 58 pivotally secured to each stirrup the tail may be elevated and depressed, or moved laterally in one direction or the other.

In operation, the operator is strapped within the frame 10 in a recumbent osition with the legs extending rearwardly eneath the rear extension 12, while the arms are extended through the central openings of the rings 19 of the devices indicated at 14 and strapped to the system of linkage forming a support for the planes by means of the straps 29 with the fingers and hands inclosed within the gloves 27. B moving the arms and manipulating the gers, the planes may be moved vertically, and by twisting the arms the angle of inclination of the planes may be varied either to the same extent simultaneously, or inclined in opposite directions. If one plane is inclined in one direction and the other in the other direction the machine may be caused to execute a rotary motion to facilitate descending or to permit the position of the machine to be quickly reversed. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 9, that on an upward movement of the plane each feather 30 constituting the same is. caused to rotate to permit the air to pass therebetween, the rotation of the feather being limited by the engagement of the pin 36 with the ends of the slot 35. However, upon a downward movement of the plane the feathers 30 will be rotated in a reverse direction and caused to overlap in closely packed formation to form a substantially solid surface thereby giving an upward impulse to the machine which will sustain the weight of the machine and the operator and elevate the machine. By varying the inclination of the planes by twisting the arms the machine may be caused to. soar or drift and the speed of travel of the machine may be. varied by varying the inclination of the planes. By manipulating the fingers the pinions of the outer end of the planes may be moved vertically to simulate the movement of the pinions of the wings of a bird. By the use of the pinions the steering of the machine is facilitated and the equilibrium thereof may be maintained. The pinions may thus be caused to act after the manner of ailerons.

The tail may be adjusted and moved by means of the foot pedals in the manner described above so as to alter the direction of flight of the machine vertically, that is to say either to elevate the machine or depress the same, by moving the tail laterally to steer the machine in one direction or the other. The tail may also be manipulated to effect a safe landing.

If desired a motor indicated at 64 may be provided and mounted beneath the frame 10 and inclosed within a suitable casing 65 to rotate a propeller shaft 66 having a propeller 67 mounted at the forward end thereof whereby to relieve strain on the operator and to assist in elevating the machine and sustaining the weight thereof. The machine may be used with or without the motor and propeller as desired.

While I have illustrated and described my invention withsome degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations thereover may be made, and I therefore desire to reserve the ri ht and privilege of changing the form 0% the details of construction or otherwise altering the arran ement of the correlative parts without eparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus .described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a flying machine, a frame, a rotatably mounted arm at each side of the frame, a system of linkage connected to each rotatable element, means for strapping each system of linkage to an arm of the operator and a plane mounted on each system of linkage whereby 'the planes may be 0s cillated vertically, or inclined transversely relatively in opposite directions, or simultaneously in the same direction.

2. In a flying machine, an annular member secured to each side of the frame and having its inner face recessed, a concentric annular member "within each first mentioned annular member rotatable relatively thereto, a system of linkage pivotally connected to each one of the second mentioned annular members and a plane secured to each system of linkage whereby the planes may be oscillated vertically or inclined transversely relative to each other in opposite directions, or simultaneously in the same direction.

3. In a flying machine, a frame, a system of linkage mounted at each side, "the joints of the links being located at points coincident with the joints of the arms, means for strapping each system of links to one of the arms of the operator, a glove mounted at the outer end of each system of linkage, means connecting each system of linkage to the frame to permit rotative axial movement of each system of linkage, and to permit vertical movement of each system of linkage, and a plane mounted on each system of linkage with a portion of each plane carried by one of the gloves.

4. In a flying machine, a frame, a system of linkage carried 'at each side thereof, a

plane mounted on each system of linkage in- 1 eluding a plurality of featherlike elements, a

rib extending longitudinally of each ele ment adjacent one edge thereof, a plurality of sleeves mounted on each system of linkage, each sleeve being adapted to receive one of the ribs of a featherlike element, each sleeve having a circumferentially extending slot, and a pin extending throu h each rib and through the slot of its corre ated sleeve to permit separation of the elements upon a movement of the plane in one direction, and to permit closely packed formation of the elements upon a reverse movement of the planes.

5. In a flying machine, a tail, means mounting the same for movement vertically and laterally, a pair of oscillatably mounted foot pedals, means operatively connecting each pedal to the tail, to move the same vertic'ally upon oscillation of the pedals, and

"an auxiliary pedal carried by each of said first mentioned pedals, and means connecting the auxiliary pedals to the tail wherebyto oscillate the tail laterally upon oscillation of said auxiliary pedals.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

' JOSEPH N. G. NESBIT.

Witnesses:

GUs T. DOWLING, JOHN E. BURCH. 

